5 TV Show Remakes That Didn’t Stink

Hollywood loves to crank out remakes of beloved TV shows, and this season is no exception. Television viewers will be treated to new versions of 'Charlie’s Angels' and 'Prime Suspect.' More often then not, though, these reboots fail, but there are a few success stories. Here are five TV remakes that were actually successful — or at least stayed on the air for more than one season.

Hollywood loves to crank out remakes of beloved TV shows, and this season is no exception. Television viewers will be treated to new versions of 'Charlie’s Angels' and 'Prime Suspect.' More often then not, though, these reboots fail, but there are a few success stories. Here are five TV remakes that were actually successful — or at least stayed on the air for more than one season.

'Hawaii 5-0'

The only thing that the remake kept from the original was the location and the iconic theme music. This update of the breezy action series, which premiered last fall, is one of CBS' biggest hits, and even earned critical accolades with a Golden Globe nomination for Scott Caan.

'Nikita'

The slinky, sexy thriller was originally a French film, remade into an American one, then a cable TV show, and then rebooted yet again for the CW. The interesting twist is that for the latest version, the Asian actress Maggie Q was cast to fill Nikita's butt-kicking stilletos. The show begins its second season this fall.

'90210'

The CW is also responsible for reviving the classic ’90s teen drama 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' using original actors Shannen Doherty and Jenni Garth to relaunch the franchise. But the show soon created its own teen dream stars, like Shenae Grimes and AnnaLynne McCord. It's now cruising into its fourth season, with the new generation of West Beverly kids starting college.

'The Office'

NBC had tried remaking popular British series a few times (remember 'Coupling?' Didn't think so), but hit the jackpot with its version of 'The Office.' While the original series with Ricky Gervais only aired 14 episodes, the US comedy is chugging along into its eighth season. The show is re-inventing itself in a way by replacing Steve Carell with James Spader.

'Battlestar Galactica'

The '70s-era science-fiction series is mostly remembered for its cheesy special effects, but was reborn in 2004 as a mind-bending cult drama with a top-notch cast that included Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell. The series aired on the Sci-Fi channel for four seasons, and its finale was one of the most-buzzed about endings in recent TV history.